Coated recording sheets for electrostatic printing processes

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a recording sheet which comprises a base sheet, an antistatic layer coated on at least one surface of the base sheet comprising a mixture of a first component selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic polysaccharides and a second component selected from the group consisting of poly (vinyl amines), poly (vinyl phosphates), poly (vinyl alcohols), poly (vinyl alcohol)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene imine)ethoxylated, poly (ethylene oxides), poly (n-vinyl acetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts), melamine-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, and mixtures thereof, and at least one toner receiving layer coated on an antistatic layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride containing polymers, maleic ester containing polymers, and mixtures thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to sheets suitable as receivingsubstrates in electrostatic printing and imaging processes. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to coated recordingsheets suitable for electrostatic printing and imaging processes whichcontain one or more antistatic layers and one or more toner receivinglayers. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to arecording sheet which comprises a base sheet, an antistatic layer coatedon at least one surface of the base sheet comprising a mixture of afirst component selected from the group consisting of hydrophilicpolysaccharides and a second component selected from the groupconsisting of poly (vinyl amines), poly (vinyl phosphates), poly (vinylalcohols), poly (vinyl alcohol)-ethoxylated, poly (ethyleneimine)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene oxides), poly (n-vinylacetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts), melamine-formaldehyde resins,urea-formaldehyde resins, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, andmixtures thereof, and at least one toner receiving layer coated on anantistatic layer comprising a material selected from the groupconsisting of maleic anhydride containing polymers, maleic estercontaining polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Electrostatic imaging processes are known. For example, the formationand development of images on the surface of photoconductive materials byelectrostatic means is well known. The basic electrophotographic imagingprocess, as taught by C. F. Carlson in U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691, entailsplacing a uniform electrostatic charge on a photoconductive insulatinglayer known as a photoconductor or photoreceptor, exposing thephotoreceptor to a light and shadow image to dissipate the charge on theareas of the photoreceptor exposed to the light, and developing theresulting electrostatic latent image by depositing on the image a finelydivided electroscopic material known as toner. The toner will normallybe attracted to those areas of the photoreceptor which retain a charge,thereby forming a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latentimage. This developed image may then be transferred to a substrate suchas paper. The transferred image may subsequently be permanently affixedto the substrate by heat, pressure, a combination of heat and pressure,or other suitable fixing means such as solvent or overcoating treatment.

Other methods for forming electrostatic latent images are also known,such as ionographic methods. In ionographic imaging processes, a latentimage is formed on a dielectric image receptor or electroreceptor by iondeposition, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,564,556,3,611,419, 4,240,084, 4,569,584, 2,919,171, 4,524,371, 4,619,515,4,463,363, 4,254,424, 4,538,163, 4,409,604, 4,408,214, 4,365,549,4,267,556, 4,160,257, and 4,155,093, the disclosures of each of whichare totally incorporated herein by reference. Generally, the processentails application of charge in an image pattern with an ionographicwriting head to a dielectric receiver that retains the charged image.The image is subsequently developed with a developer capable ofdeveloping charge images.

Many methods are known for applying the electroscopic particles to theelectrostatic latent image to be developed. One development method,disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,552, is known as cascade development.Another technique for developing electrostatic images is the magneticbrush process, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,063. This method entailsthe carrying of a developer material containing toner and magneticcarrier particles by a magnet. The magnetic field of the magnet causesalignment of the magnetic carriers in a brushlike configuration, andthis "magnetic brush" is brought into contact with the electrostaticimage bearing surface of the photoreceptor. The toner particles aredrawn from the brush to the electrostatic image by electrostaticattraction to the undischarged areas of the photoreceptor, anddevelopment of the image results. Other techniques, such as touchdowndevelopment, powder cloud development, and jumping development are knownto be suitable for developing electrostatic latent images.

Recording sheets suitable for various printing and imaging processes arealso known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,697 (Malhotra), thedisclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference,discloses a transparent substrate material for receiving or containingan image which comprises a supporting substrate base, an antistaticpolymer layer coated on one or both sides of the substrate comprisinghydrophilic cellulosic components, and a toner receiving polymer layercontained on one or both sides of the antistatic layer comprisinghydrophobic cellulose ethers, hydrophobic cellulose esters, or mixturesthereof, and wherein the toner receiving layer contains adhesivecomponents.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,379 (Kato et al.) discloses a transferfilm comprising a transparent plastic film substrate, an undercoatinglayer composed of an electrically conductive resin and having a surfaceresistance of 1.0×10⁶ to 9.0×10⁹ ohms, and a toner receiving layercomposed of a binder resin and having a surface resistance of 1.0×10¹⁰to 1.0×10¹⁴ ohms, which is formed on at least one surface of thetransparent plastic film substrate through the undercoating layer.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,003 (Edwards et al.) discloses atransparency film for use in a plain paper electrostatic copier. Thetransparency film comprises (a) a flexible, transparent, heat resistant,polymeric film base, (b) an image receiving layer carried upon a firstmajor surface of the film base, and (c) a layer of electricallyconductive material carried on a second major surface of the film base.Where necessary, a primer coat is interposed between the image receivinglayer and the film base and/or between the layer of electricallyconductive material and the film base. A protective coating ispreferably applied over the layer of conductive material. The film canbe used in powder-toned or liquid-toned plain paper copiers for makingtransparencies.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,816 (Wittnebel) discloses atransparency sheet material for use in a plain paper electrostaticcopier comprising (a) a flexible, transparent, heat resistant, polymericfilm base, (b) an image receiving layer carried upon a first majorsurface of the film base, and (c) a layer of electrically conductiveprime coat interposed between the image receiving layer and the filmbase. The sheet material can be used in powder-toned or liquid-tonedplain paper copiers for making transparencies.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,914 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a transparency whichcomprises a supporting substrate and a blend which comprisespolyethylene oxide and carboxymethyl cellulose together with a componentselected from the group consisting of (1) hydroxypropyl cellulose; (2)vinylmethyl ether/maleic acid copolymer; (3) carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose; (4) hydroxyethyl cellulose; (5) acrylamide/acrylic acidcopolymer; (6) cellulose sulfate; (7) poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid); (8) poly(vinyl alcohol); (9) poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);and (10) hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. Papers with these coatings arealso disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,407 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a transparency whichcomprises a hydrophilic coating and a plasticizer such as a phosphate, asubstituted phthalic anhydride, a glycerol, a glycol, a substitutedglycerol, a pyrrolidinone, an alkylene carbonate, a sulfolane, or astearic acid derivative. Papers having the disclosed coatings are alsoincluded in the disclosure.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,225 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses transparencies suitable forelectrographic and xerographic imaging which comprise a polymericsubstrate with a toner receptive coating on one surface comprisingblends of: poly(ethylene oxide) and carboxymethyl cellulose;poly(ethylene oxide), carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose; poly(ethylene oxide) and vinylidenefluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, poly(chloroprene) andpoly(α-methylstyrene); poly(caprolactone) and poly(α-methylstyrene);poly(vinylisobutylether) and poly(α-methylstyrene); blends ofpoly(caprolactone) and poly(p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene); blends ofpoly(1,4-butylene adipate) and poly(α-methylstyrene); chlorinatedpoly(propylene) and poly(α-methylstyrene); chlorinated poly(ethylene)and poly(α-methylstyrene); and chlorinated rubber andpoly(α-methylstyrene). This copending application also disclosestransparencies suitable for electrographic and xerographic imagingprocesses comprising a supporting polymeric substrate with a tonerreceptive coating on one surface thereof which comprises: (a) a firstlayer coating of a crystalline polymer selected from the groupconsisting of poly(chloroprene), chlorinated rubbers, blends ofpoly(ethylene oxide), and vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylenecopolymers, chlorinated poly(propylene), chlorinated poly(ethylene),poly(vinylmethyl ketone), poly(caprolactone), poly(1,4-butyleneadipate), poly(vinylmethyl ether), and poly(vinyl isobutylether); and(b) a second overcoating layer comprising a cellulose ether selectedfrom the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose,hydroxypropyl cellulose, and ethyl cellulose.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,140 (Malhotra et al.), the disclosure of which istotally incorporated herein by reference, discloses a transparentsubstrate material for receiving or containing an image which comprisesa supporting substrate, an anticurl coating layer or coatingsthereunder, and an ink receiving layer thereover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,903 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses an imaged transparencycomprising a supporting substrate, an oil absorbing layer whichcomprises, for example, chlorinated rubber, styrene-olefin copolymers,alkylmethacrylate copolymers, ethylenepropylene copolymers, sodiumcarboxymethyl cellulose or sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose,and ink receiving polymer layers comprising, for example, vinylalcohol-vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol-vinyl butyral or vinylalcohol-vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymers. The ink receivinglayers may include therein or thereon fillers such as silica, calciumcarbonate, or titanium dioxide.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,153 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses a never-tear coated papercomprising a plastic supporting substrate; a binder layer comprisingpolymers selected from the group consisting of (1) hydroxy propylcellulose, (2) poly(vinyl alkyl ether), (3) vinyl pyrrolidone-vinylacetate copolymer, (4) vinyl pyrrolidonedialkylamino ethyl methacrylatecopolymer quaternized, (5) poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), (6) poly(ethyleneimine), and mixtures thereof; a pigment or pigments; and an inkreceiving polymer layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,773 (Malhotra), the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses all purpose xerographictransparencies with coatings thereover which are compatible with thetoner compositions selected for development, and wherein the coatingsenable images with acceptable optical densities. One disclosedtransparency for ink jet printing processes and xerographic printingprocesses comprises a supporting substrate and a coating compositionthereon which comprises a mixture selected from the classes of materialscomprising (a) nonionic celluloses such as hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose, ormixtures thereof; (b) ionic celluloses such as anionic sodiumcarboxymethyl cellulose, anionic sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, cationic celluloses, or mixtures thereof; (c) poly(alkyleneoxide) such as poly(ethylene oxide) together with a noncellulosiccomponent selected from the group consisting of (1) poly(imidazoline)quaternized; (2) poly(N,N-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylene piperidiniumchloride); (3) poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid); (4)poly(ethylene imine) epichlorohydrin; (5) poly(acrylamide); (6)acrylamide-acrylic acid copolymer; (7) poly(vinyl pyrrolidone); (8)poly(vinyl alcohol); (9) vinyl pyrrolidone-diethylaminomethylmethacrylate copolymer quaternized; (10) vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer; and mixtures thereof. The coatingcompositions are generally present on both sides of a supportingsubstrate, and in one embodiment the coating comprises nonionichydroxyethyl cellulose, 25 percent by weight, anionic sodiumcarboxymethyl cellulose, 25 percent by weight, poly(ethylene oxide), 25percent by weight, and poly(acrylamide), 25 percent by weight. Thecoating can also contain colloidal silica particles, a carbonate, suchas calcium carbonate, and the like primarily for the purpose oftransparency traction during the feeding process.

Copending application U.S. Ser. No. 07/544,577 (Malhotra), filed Jun.27, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,205 the disclosure of which is totallyincorporated herein by reference, discloses transparencies forelectrophotographic processes, especially xerographic processes, ink jetprinting processes, dot matrix printing processes and the like,comprising a supporting substrate and an ink or toner receiving coatingcomposition on both sides of the substrate comprising an adhesive layerpolymer such as chlorinated poly(isoprene), chlorinated poly(propylene),blends of phosphate esters with poly(styrene) and the like and anantistatic layer on both sides of the adhesive layer, which antistaticlayer comprises complexes of metal halides such as potassium iodide,urea compounds such as urea phosphate with polymers containingoxyalkylene units such as poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide),ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, ethoxylated amines andthe like, and an optional resin binder polymer such aspoly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), poly(2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate),hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, or the like.

Copending application U.S. Ser. No. 07/561,430 (Malhotra), thedisclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference,discloses a recording sheet which comprises, in the order stated, an inkreceiving layer, a base sheet, a heat absorbing layer, and an anticurllayer. The recording sheet can be transparent or opaque, and can be usedin a wide variety of printing and imaging processes. The recording sheetexhibits little or no curling, even after exposure to heat and/or a widerange of relative humidities.

Although known recording sheets are suitable for their intendedpurposes, a need remains for recording sheets that enable formation ofimages of excellent quality with high resolution and little or nobackground deposits. In addition, there continues to be a need fortransparent recording sheets that enable formation of images with highoptical density. Further, there is a need for transparent recordingsheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processes and having abase sheet, one or more antistatic layers, and one or more tonerreceiving layers, wherein the antistatic layer and toner receiving layerexhibit excellent adhesion to the base sheet. There is also a need forrecording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processesthat enable excellent adhesion between the toner image and the recordingsheet. Additionally, there is a need for recording sheets suitable foruse in electrostatic imaging processes that can be used in more than onetype of electrostatic imaging apparatus. Further, there is a need forrecording sheets that do not block (stick together) under conditions ofhigh relative humidity (for example, 50 to 80 percent relative humidity)and high temperature (for example, over 50° C.). There is also a needfor transparent recording sheets suitable for use in electrostaticimaging processes that enable increased toner flow over the sheet duringthe imaging process. Additionally, there is a need for transparentrecording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging permit thesubstantial elimination of beading during mixing of primary colors togenerate secondary colors. Further, there is a need for transparentrecording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processesthat exhibit substantial image permanence for extended time periods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide recording sheetssuitable for electrostatic printing and imaging applications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide recordingsheets that enable formation of images of excellent quality with highresolution and little or no background deposits.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide transparentrecording sheets that enable formation of images with high opticaldensity.

It is still another object of the present invention to providetransparent recording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imagingprocesses and having a base sheet, one or more antistatic layers, andone or more toner receiving layers, wherein the antistatic layer andtoner receiving layer exhibit excellent adhesion to the base sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide recording sheetssuitable for use in electrostatic imaging processes that enableexcellent adhesion between the toner image and the recording sheet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide recordingsheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processes that can beused in more than one type of electrostatic imaging apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide recordingsheets that do not block (stick together) under conditions of highrelative humidity (for example, 50 to 80 percent relative humidity) andhigh temperature (for example, over 50° C.)

It is another object of the present invention to provide transparentrecording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processesthat enable increased toner flow over the sheet during the imagingprocess.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide transparentrecording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imaging processesthat permit the substantial elimination of beading during mixing ofprimary colors to generate secondary colors.

It is still another object of the present invention to providetransparent recording sheets suitable for use in electrostatic imagingprocesses that exhibit substantial image permanence for extended timeperiods.

These and other objects of the present invention (or specificembodiments thereof) can be achieved by providing a recording sheetwhich comprises a base sheet, an antistatic layer coated on at least onesurface of the base sheet comprising a mixture of a first componentselected from the group consisting of hydrophilic polysaccharides and asecond component selected from the group consisting of poly (vinylamines), poly (vinyl phosphates), poly (vinyl alcohols), poly (vinylalcohol)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene imine)-ethoxylated, poly (ethyleneoxides), poly (n-vinyl acetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts),melamine-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins,styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, and mixtures thereof, and at leastone toner receiving layer coated on an antistatic layer comprising amaterial selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydridecontaining polymers, maleic ester containing polymers, and mixturesthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The recording sheets of the present invention comprise a base sheet, anantistatic layer coated on at least one surface of the base sheetcomprising a mixture of a first component selected from the groupconsisting of hydrophilic polysaccharides and a second componentselected from the group consisting of poly (vinyl amines), poly (vinylphosphates), poly (vinyl alcohols), poly (vinyl alcohol)-ethoxylated,poly (ethylene imine)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene oxides), poly (n-vinylacetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts), melamine-formaldehyde resins,urea-formaldehyde resins, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, andmixtures thereof, and at least one toner receiving layer coated on anantistatic layer comprising a material selected from the groupconsisting of maleic anhydride containing polymers, maleic estercontaining polymers, and mixtures thereof. The base sheet for therecording sheets of the present invention can be any suitable materialfor receiving images. Examples include transparent materials, such aspolyester, including Mylar™, available from E.I. Du Pont de Nemours &Company, Melinex™, available from Imperial Chemicals, Inc., Celanar™,available from Celanese Corporation, polycarbonates such as Lexan™,available from General Electric Company, polysulfones, cellulosetriacetate, polyvinylchloride cellophane, polyvinyl fluoride, and thelike, with polyester such as Mylar™ being preferred in view of itsavailability and relatively low cost. The base sheet can also be opaque,such as paper, including plain papers such as Xerox® 4024, diazo papers,or the like, or opaque plastics and filled polymers, such as Melinex®,available from ICI. The base sheet can be of any effective thickness.Typical thicknesses for the base sheet are from about 50 to about 125microns, and preferably from about 100 to about 125 microns, althoughthe thickness can be outside these ranges.

The antistatic layer can be present either on one surface of the basesheet or on both surfaces of the base sheet. This antistatic layercomprises a mixture of a first component selected from the groupconsisting of hydrophilic polysaccharides and a second componentselected from the group consisting of poly (vinyl amines), poly (vinylphosphates), poly (vinyl alcohols), poly (vinyl alcohol)-ethoxylated,poly (ethylene imine)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene oxides), poly (n-vinylacetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts), melamine-formaldehyde resins,urea-formaldehyde resins, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, andmixtures thereof. Specific examples of suitable hydrophilicpolysaccharides include (1) cellulose ester salts, such as sodiumderivatives of cellulose phosphate ester (including those available fromJames River Chemicals), cellulose phosphate, available from CTCorganics, sodium cellulose sulfate, available from Janssen Chimica,cellulose carbonate, available from Sigma Chemicals, sodium ethylcellulose (which can be obtained by the reaction of alkali cellulosewith sodium chloroethane sulfonate), and the like; (2) cellulose ethersand their salts, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (including CMC7HOF, available from Hercules Chemical Company), sodiumcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose (including CMHEC 43H™ and 37L,available from Hercules Chemical Company; CMHEC 43H™ is believed to be ahigh molecular weight polymer with carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)/hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) ratio of 4:3, and CMHEC 37L isbelieved to be of lower molecular weight with a CMC/HEC ratio of 3:7),carboxymethylmethyl cellulose, available from Aqualon Company,carboxymethyl cellulose calcium salt, available from Pfaltz and BauerInc., carboxymethyl cellulose ether sodium salt, available from E.M.Science Company, carboxymethyl cellulose hydrazide, available from SigmaChemicals, sodium sulfoethyl cellulose (which can be prepared by thereaction of sodium vinyl sulfonate with alkali cellulose), and the like;(3) cationic cellulose ethers, such as diethyl aminoethyl cellulose(including DEAE cellulose, available from Poly Sciences Inc.), cationichydroxyethyl celluloses, such as diethyl ammonium chloridehydroxyethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl triethyl ammonium chloridehydroxyethylcellulose (available as Celquat H-100 and L-200 fromNational Starch and Chemical Company and as Polymer JR series from UnionCarbide Company), and the like; (4) hydroxyalkyl celluloses, such ashydroxyethyl cellulose (including Natrosol 250 LR, available fromHercules Chemical Company), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, such asMethocel™ K35LV, available from Dow Chemical Company, hydroxypropylhydroxyethyl cellulose, available from Aqualon Company, dihydroxypropylcellulose (which can be prepared by the reaction of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol with alkali cellulose), and the like; (5) substituteddeoxycelluloses, such as chlorodeoxycellulose (which can be prepared bythe reaction of cellulose with sulfuryl chloride in pyridine and CHCL₃at 25° C.), amino deoxycellulose (which can be prepared by the reactionof chlorodeoxycellulose with 19 percent alcoholic solution of ammoniafor 6 hours at 160° C.), deoxycellulose phosphate (which can be preparedby the reaction of tosyl cellulose with triethyl phosphate in dimethylformamide at 85° C.), deoxy cellulose phosphonium salt (which can beprepared by the reaction of tosyl cellulose with tris(hydroxy methyl)phosphine), and the like; (6) dextran polymers, such as carboxymethyldextran (including #16058, available from Poly Sciences Inc.), diethylaminoethyl dextran, such as #5178, available from Poly Sciences Inc.,dextran sulfate, available from Sigma Chemical Company, dextran sulfatepotassium salt, available from Calibiochem Corporation, dextran sulfatesodium salt, available from Poly Sciences Inc, amino dextran, availablefrom Molecular Probes Inc., dextran polysulfonate sodium salt, availablefrom Reseach Plus Inc., and the like; (7) natural ionic gums and theirmodifications, such as alginic acid sodium salt (including #032,available from Scientific Polymer Products), alginic acid ammonium salt,available from Fluka Chemie AG, alginic acid calcium salt, availablefrom Fluka Chemie AG, alginic acid calcium sodium salt, available fromAmerican Tokyo Kasei Inc., gum arabic, available from Sigma Chemicals,Carrageenan sodium salt, available from Gallard-Schless Inc.,carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, available from Aqualon Company,cationic gum guar, available as Celanese Jaguars C-14-S, C-15, and C-17from Celanese Chemical Company, Karaya gum, available from SigmaChemicals, Xanthan gum, available as Keltrol-T from Kelco division ofMerck and Company, Chitosan, available from Fluka Chemie AG,n-carboxymethyl chitin, and the like; (8) protein polymers, such asdimethylammonium hydrolyzed collagen protein, available as Croquats fromCroda, agar-agar, available from Pfaltz and Bauer Inc., amino agarose,available from Accurate Chemical and Scientific Corporation, and thelike; (9) n-carboxymethyl amylose sodium salt, available from SigmaChemicals; and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

The antistatic layer also contains a second component. Examples ofsuitable materials for this second component include poly (vinyl amine),such as #1562, available from Poly Sciences Inc., poly (vinylphosphate), such as #4391, available from Poly Sciences Inc., poly(vinyl alcohol), such as Elvanol, available from E. I. Du Pont deNemours & Company, poly (vinyl alcohol) ethoxylated, such as #6573,available from Poly Sciences Inc., poly (ethylene imine) ethoxylated,such as #1559, available from Poly Sciences Inc., poly (ethylene oxide),such as POLYOX WSRN-3000, available from Union Carbide Company, poly(n-vinyl acetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts), such as #15662, the sodiumsalt available from Poly Sciences Inc., melamineformaldehyde resins,such as BC 309, available from British Industrial Plastics Limited,urea-formaldehyde resins, such as BC 777, available from BritishIndustrial Plastics limited, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, suchas #371, available from Scientific Polymer Products, and the like, aswell as mixtures thereof.

The first component (hydrophilic polysaccharide) and the secondcomponent of the antistatic layer can be present in any effectiverelative amounts. Typically, the amount of the first component(polysaccharide) in the antistatic layer is from about 50 to about 90percent by weight and the amount of the second component in theantistatic layer is from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight, withthe preferred amount of the first component (polysaccharide) in theantistatic layer being about 75 percent by weight and the preferredamount of the second component being about 25 percent by weight,although the relative amounts can be outside these ranges. Illustrativespecific examples of preferred antistatic layer blends include blends ofsodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 75 percent by weight, and poly (ethyleneoxide), 25 percent by weight; blends of sodium dextran sulfate, 75percent by weight, and poly (ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight;blends of sodium alginate, 75 percent by weight, and poly (ethyleneoxide), 25 percent by weight; blends of sodium carboxymethyl amylose, 75percent by weight, and poly (ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight;blends of sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, 75 percent byweight, and poly(ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight; blends of sodiumcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, 75 percent by weight, and poly(ethylene imine-hydroxyethylated) (also known as ethoxylated poly(ethylene imine), 25 percent by weight; blends of hydroxyethylcellulose, 75 percent by weight, and poly (vinyl alcohol) ethoxylated,25 percent by weight; blends of carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, 75percent by weight, and melamine-formaldehyde, 25 percent by weight; andblends of cationic cellulosic ethers, 75 percent by weight, and poly(vinyl alcohol), 25 percent by weight.

The antistatic layer can be of any effective thickness; typicalthicknesses are from about 1 to about 25 microns and preferably fromabout 2 to about 10 microns, although the thickness can be outside ofthese ranges.

The recording sheets of the present invention also comprise at least onetoner receiving layer coated on an antistatic layer. The recording sheetcan have toner receiving layers on one or both surfaces of the sheet,and when both surfaces contain toner receiving layers, the tonerreceiving layers can be of the same composition or of differentcompositions. The toner receiving layers comprise a material selectedfrom the group consisting of maleic anhydride containing polymers,maleic ester containing polymers, and mixtures thereof. Specificexamples of suitable toner receiving polymers include poly (maleicanhydride) (such as #2348, available from Poly Sciences Inc. and alsoavailable as Belgard EV from Ciba-Geigy Corporation), styrene-maleicanhydride copolymer, such as #3500 with 75 percent styrene content,available from Poly Sciences Inc., also available as Scripset fromMonsanto and as SMA series from Arco, p-styrene sulfonic acid-maleicanhydride copolymer, such as #18407 containing 25 percent by weightmaleic anhydride, available from Poly Sciences Inc., ethylene-maleicanhydride copolymer, such as #2308, available from Poly Sciences Inc.and also available as EMA from Monsanto Chemical Company,butadiene-maleic anhydride copolymer, such as #7788, available from PolySciences Inc. and also available as Maldene from Borg-Warner Company,isobutylene-maleic anhydride, such as ISOBAM, available from Kuraray,1-octadecene-maleic anhydride copolymer, such as #5152, available fromPoly Sciences Inc. and also available as PA-18 from Gulf, methylvinylethermaleic anhydride, such as #173, available from ScientificPolymer, #7711 available from Poly Sciences Inc., and Gantrez AN resinsavailable from GAF, n-octadecyl vinylether-maleic anhydride copolymers,such as #2589, available from Poly Sciences Inc., vinyl chloride-maleicanhydride copolymer (which can be prepared via free radicalpolymerization of vinyl chloride and maleic anhydride), vinylmethylketone-maleic anhydride copolymer (which can be prepared from solutioncopolymerization of vinyl methyl ketone and maleic anhydride in aromaticsolvents such as toluene with free radical initiators at 100° C.),methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride and methyl methacrylate-maleicanhydride copolymers (which can be prepared from solutioncopolymerization of the comonomers using an azobisisobutyronitrileinitiator at 40° C.), vinylacetate-maleic anhydride copolymers, such as#3347, available from Poly Sciences Inc. and also available as Lytronresins from Monsanto Chemicals, acrylonitrile-maleic anhydridecopolymers, such as #4265, available from Poly Sciences Inc.,n-vinylpyrrolidone-maleic anhydride copolymers (which can be preparedfrom free radical solution polymerization of the two comonomers), alkylvinyl ether-maleic acid monoalkylester where alkyl is methyl, ethyl,isopropyl, or butyl, such as #16291, #16292, and #16293, available fromPoly Sciences Inc. and also available as Gantrez ES-225 and Gantrez-425from GAF Chemicals, styrene-maleic anhydride monomethylmaleate,available as Scripset 520 Resin from Monsanto, and the like, as well asmixtures thereof. When the maleic anhydride polymers are used asmixtures or blends of two polymers as the toner receiving layer, thepolymers may be present in any effective relative amounts; for example,when a mixture of two polymers is used, typically from about 10 to about90 percent by weight of the first polymer and from about 10 to about 90percent by weight of the second polymer are present, and preferably theamount of the first polymer is from about 25 to about 75 percent byweight and the amount of the second polymer is from about 25 to about 75percent by weight, although relative amounts outside these ranges canalso be used.

Specific examples of preferred toner receiving blends include blends ofvinylacetate-maleic anhydride, 50 percent by weight, and ethylene-maleicanhydride, 50 percent by weight; blends of styrene-maleic anhydride, 25percent by weight, and butadiene-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight;blends of styrene-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight, and methylvinyl ether-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight; blends ofisobutylene-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight, and styrene-maleicanhydride, 25 percent by weight; blends of methyl vinyl ether-maleicanhydride, 50 percent by weight, and vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride, 50percent by weight; blends of octadecyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride, 50percent by weight, and styrene-maleic anhydride, 50 percent by weight;blends of 1-octadecene-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight, andstyrene-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight; blends ofvinylchloride-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight, and methylacrylate-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight; blends ofmethylmethacrylate-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight, andvinylacetate-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight; blends of p-styrenesulfonic acid-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight, andbutadiene-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight; blends ofacrylonitride-maleic anhydride, 25 percent by weight, andbutadiene-maleic anhydride, 75 percent by weight; and the like.

The toner receiving layer or layers can be of any effective thickness.Typical thicknesses are from about 1 to about 25 microns, and preferablyfrom about 5 to about 15 microns, although thicknesses outside of theseranges can also be chosen. In addition, the toner receiving layer canoptionally contain filler materials, such as inorganic oxides, includingsilicon dioxide, titanium dioxide (rutile), and the like, colloidalsilicas, such as Syloid™ 74, available from W. R. Grace & Company,calcium carbonate, or the like, as well as mixtures thereof, in anyeffective amount. Typical amounts of fillers are from about 1 to about25 percent by weight of the coating composition, and preferably fromabout 2 to about 10 percent by weight of the coating composition,although other amounts can also be used. When it is desired that therecording sheet of the present invention be transparent, the fillertypically is present in an amount of up to about 3 percent by weight.Filler components may be useful as a slip component for feeding therecording sheet through a printing or imaging apparatus, since additionof the filler renders the sheet surface discontinuous, thereby impartingroughness to the surface and making it easy to grip in a machineequipped with pinch rollers.

The coated recording sheets of the present invention can be prepared byany suitable method. For example, the layer coatings can be applied by anumber of known techniques, including melt extrusion, reverse roll,solvent extrusion, and dip coating processes. In dip coating, a web ofmaterial to be coated is transported below the surface of the coatingmaterial by a single roll in such a manner that the exposed site issaturated, followed by the removal of any excess coating by a blade,bar, or squeeze roll; the process is then repeated with the appropriatecoating materials for application of the other layered coatings. Withreverse roll coating, the premetered coating material is transferredfrom a steel applicator roll onto the web material to be coated. Themetering roll is stationary or is rotating slowly in the directionopposite to that of the applicator roll. In slot extrusion coating, aflat die is used to apply coating materials with the die lips in closeproximity to the web of material to be coated. Once the desired amountof coating has been applied to the web, the coating is dried, typicallyat from about 25° to about 100° C. in an air drier.

One specific example of a process for preparing a coated recording sheetof the present invention entails providing a base sheet such as Mylar®in a thickness of from about 100 to about 125 microns and applying toboth sides of the Mylar® by a dip coating process in a thickness ofabout 1 to about 25 microns an antistatic polymer layer comprising ablend of about 75 percent by weight sodium carboxymethyl cellulose andabout 25 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide), which blend is presentin a concentration of about 4 percent by weight in water. Thereafter thecoating is air dried at 25° C. and the resulting antistatic polymerlayer is overcoated in a thickness of from about 1 to about 25 micronswith a toner receiving layer comprising a blend of about 50 percent byweight vinylacetate-maleic anhydride copolymer and about 50 percent byweight ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, which blend is present in aconcentration of about 5 percent by weight in methanol. Subsequent toair drying at 25° C., the resulting transparency can be used inapparatuses such as the Xerox® 1005® . Other coated recording sheets ofthe present invention can be prepared in a similar or equivalent manner.

Another specific example of a process for preparing a coated recordingsheet of the present invention entails providing a Mylar® base sheet (inroll form) in a thickness of from about 100 to 125 microns and applyingto one side of the Mylar® by solvent extrusion techniques on a FaustelCoater, in a thickness of from about 1 to about 25 microns, a blendcomprising about 75 percent by weight sodium dextran sulfate and about25 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide), which blend is present in aconcentration of about 4 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 100° C., the resulting antistatic polymer layer is overcoatedwith a blend comprising about 75 percent by weight isobutylene-maleicanhydride and about 25 percent by weight styrene-maleic anhydridecopolymer, which blend is present in a concentration of about 4 percentby weight in acetone, in a thickness of from about 1 to about 25microns. Subsequent to air drying at 100° C., the two layered coatedMylar® is rewound onto an empty core and the uncoated side of the rollis coated with an antistatic polymer layer comprising a blend of about75 percent by weight sodium dextran sulfate and about 25 percent byweight poly(ethylene oxide) in a thickness of from about 1 to about 25microns, which blend is present in a concentration of about 4 percent byweight in water. Subsequent to air drying at 100° C., the resultingantistatic polymer layer is overcoated with a blend comprising about 75percent by weight isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer and about 25percent by weight styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, which blend ispresent in a concentration of about 4 percent by weight in acetone, in athickness of from about 1 to about 25 microns. Subsequent to air dryingat 100° C., the coated Mylar® roll is sheeted into 81/2×11 inch cutsheets and the resulting transparencies can be utilized in a xerographicimaging apparatus, such as those available commercially as the Xerox®1005™, and images can be obtained with optical density values of, forexample, 1.6 (black), 0.85 (yellow), 1.45 (magenta), and 1.45 (cyan).Other recording sheets of the present invention can be prepared bysimilar or equivalent methods.

The present invention also includes printing and imaging processes withrecording sheets of the present invention. One embodiment of the presentinvention is directed to a process for generating images which comprisesgenerating an electrostatic latent image on an imaging member in animaging apparatus, developing the latent image with a toner,transferring the developed image to a recording sheet of the presentinvention, and optionally permanently affixing the transferred image tothe recording sheet. The electrostatic latent image can be created on aphotosensitive imaging member by the well known electrophotographicprocess, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691 toChester Carlson. In addition, the electrostatic latent image can becreated on a dielectric imaging member by an ionographic process, whichentails applying a charge pattern imagewise to an imaging member,developing the image with a toner, and transferring the developed imageto a recording sheet. Further, the recording sheet of the presentinvention can be employed in electrographic printing processes, whichentail generating an electrostatic latent image on a recording sheet ofthe present invention, developing the latent image with a toner, andoptionally permanently affixing the developed image to the recordingsheet. Ionographic and electrographic processes are well known, and aredescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,564,556, 3,611,419,4,240,084, 4,569,584, 2,919,171, 4,524,371, 4,619,515, 4,463,363,4,254,424, 4,538,163, 4,409,604, 4,408,214, 4,365,549, 4,267,556,4,160,257, and 4,155,093, the disclosures of each of which are totallyincorporated herein by reference.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail.These examples are intended to be illustrative, and the invention is notlimited to the materials, conditions, or process parameters set forth inthese embodiments. All parts and percentages are by weight unlessotherwise indicated.

The optical density measurements recited herein were obtained on aPacific Spectrograph Color System. The system consists of two majorcomponents, an optical sensor and a data terminal. The optical sensoremploys a 6 inch integrating sphere to provide diffuse illumination and8 degrees viewing. This sensor can be used to measure both transmittanceand reflectance samples. When reflectance samples are measured, aspecular component may be included. A high resolution, full dispersion,grating monochromator was used to scan the spectrum from 380 to 720nanometers. The data terminal features a 12 inch CRT display, numericalkeyboard for selection of operating parameters, and the entry oftristimulus values, and an alphanumeric keyboard for entry of productstandard information.

EXAMPLE I

Ten coated transparent recording sheets were prepared by the dip coatingprocess (both sides coated) by providing a Mylar® base sheet in athickness of 100 microns and coating the base sheet with a blend of 75percent by weight sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC 7HOF, obtainedfrom Hercules Chemical Company) and 25 percent by weight poly (ethyleneoxide) (POLYOX WSRN-3000, obtained from Dow Chemical Company), whichblend was present in a concentration of 3 percent by weight in water.Subsequent to air drying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior toand subsequent to coating, each of the sheets was coated on each surfacewith 0.6 grams in a thickness of 6 microns of the antistatic layer. Thesheets were then coated on both sides with a toner receiving layercomprising a blend of 50 percent by weight vinyl acetate-maleicanhydride copolymer (#3347, obtained from Poly Sciences Inc.) and 50percent by weight ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer (#2308, obtainedfrom Poly Sciences Inc.), which blend was present in a concentration of3 percent by weight in methanol. Subsequent to air drying at 25° C. andmonitoring the weight prior to and subsequent to coating, each of thesheets was coated on each surface with 0.5 gram, in a thickness of 5microns, of the toner receiving layer. The resulting ten transparencieswere then fed individually into a Xerox® 1005™ color xerographic imagingapparatus. The average optical density of the images obtained was 1.6(black), 0.75 (yellow), 1.45 (magenta), and 1.40 (cyan). These imagescould not be handwiped from the transparency surface or lifted off thetransparency surface with 3M scotch tape 60 seconds subsequent to theirpreparation.

EXAMPLE II

Ten transparent coated recording sheets were prepared by the dip coatingprocess (both sides coated) by providing a Mylar® base sheet in athickness of 100 microns and coating the base sheet with a blend of 80percent by weight sodium carboxy methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC 37L, obtained from Hercules Chemical Company) and 20 percent by weightpoly (ethyleneimine, hydroxyethylated) (#1559, obtained from PolySciences Inc.), which blend was present in a concentration of 3 percentby weight in water. Subsequent to air drying at 25° C. and monitoringthe weight prior to and subsequent to coating, each of the sheets wascoated on each surface with 0.6 gram, in a thickness of 6.5 microns, ofthe antistatic layer. The sheets were then coated on both sides with atoner receiving layer comprising a blend of 25 percent by weightstyrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (#3500, 75 percent styrene content,obtained from Poly Sciences Inc.) and 75 percent by weightbutadiene-maleic anhydride copolymer (#7788, obtained from Poly SciencesInc.), which blend was present in a concentration of 3 percent by weightin acetone. Subsequent to air drying at 25° C. and monitoring the weightprior to and subsequent to coating, each of the sheets was coated oneach surface with 0.7 grams, in a thickness of 7 microns, of the tonerreceiving layer. These transparencies were then fed individually into aXerox® 1005™ color xerographic imaging apparatus. The average opticaldensity of the images obtained was 1.65 (black), 0.80 (yellow), 1.50(magenta), and 1.40 (cyan). These images could not be handwiped from thetransparency surface or lifted off the transparency surface with 3Mscotch tape 60 seconds subsequent to their preparation.

EXAMPLE III

Twenty transparent coated recording sheets were prepared by the dipcoating process (both sides coated) by providing a Mylar® base sheet ina thickness of 100 microns and coating the base sheet with a blend of 75percent by weight hydroxyethyl cellulose (Natrosol 250LR, obtained fromHercules Chemical Company) and 25 percent by weight poly (vinyl alcohol)ethoxylated (#6573, obtained from Poly Sciences Inc.), which blend waspresent in a concentration of 3 percent by weight in water. Subsequentto air drying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior to andsubsequent to coating, each of the sheets was coated on each surfacewith 0.45 grams, in a thickness of 5 microns, of the antistatic layer.These sheets were then coated on both sides with a toner receiving layercomprising a blend of 75 percent by weight methyl vinyl ether-maleicanhydride copolymer (#173, 50 percent methyl vinylether, obtained fromScientific Polymer Products) and 25 percent by weight styrene-maleicanhydride (#3500, 75 percent styrene content, obtained from PolySciences Inc.), which blend was present in a concentration of 3 percentby weight in acetone. Subsequent to air drying at 25° C. and monitoringthe weight prior to and subsequent to coating, each of the sheets wascoated on each surface with 0.4 grams, in a thickness of 4 microns, ofthe toner receiving layer. Ten of the resulting twenty transparencieswere fed individually into a Xerox® 1005™ color xerographic imagingapparatus. The average optical density of the images obtained was 1.5(black), 0.75 (yellow), 1.50 (magneta), and 1.45 (cyan). The other tentransparencies were fed individually into a Xerox® 1038™ black onlyxerographic imaging apparatus. The average optical density of the blackimage was 1.3. These images could not be handwiped from the transparencysurface or lifted off the transparency surface with 3M scotch tape 60seconds subsequent to their preparation.

EXAMPLE IV

Twenty transparent coated recording sheets were prepared by the solventextrusion process (single side each time) on a Faustel Coater byproviding a Mylar® base sheet (roll form) in a thickness of 100 micronsand coating the first side of the base sheet with a blend comprising 75percent by weight sodium dextran sulfate (#0407, obtained from PolySciences Inc.) and 25 percent by weight poly (ethylene oxide) (POLYOXWSRN-3000, obtained from Union Carbide Company), which blend was presentin a concentration of 3 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 100° C. and monitoring the difference in weight prior to andsubsequent to coating, the dried Mylar® roll was coated on the firstside with 0.3 grams, 3 microns in thickness, of the antistatic layer.The dried sodium dextran sulfate/polyethylene oxide antistatic layer onthe first side was then overcoated with a blend comprising 75 percent byweight isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer (ISOBAM, obtained fromKuraray Company) and 25 percent by weight styrene-maleic anhydridecopolymer (#3500, 75 percent styrene content, obtained from PolySciences Inc.), which blend was present in a concentration of 3 percentby weight in acetone. Subsequent to air drying at a temperature of 100°C. and monitoring the difference in weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, the twenty transparent sheets were coated on the first sidewith 0.3 grams, 3 microns in thickness, of the toner receiving layer.Subsequently, the Mylar® coated on the first side with the antistaticand toner receiving layers was rewound onto an empty core, and theuncoated (second) side of the Mylar® was coated with a blend comprising75 percent by weight sodium dextran sulfate (#0407, obtained from PolySciences Inc.) and 25 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide) POLY OXWSRN-3000, obtained from Union Carbide Company), which blend was presentin a concentration of 3 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 100° C. and monitoring the difference in weight prior to andsubsequent to coating, the dried Mylar® roll was coated on the secondside with 0.3 grams, 3 microns in thickness of the antistatic layer. Thedried sodium dextran sulfate/polyethylene oxide antistatic layer on thesecond side was then overcoated with a blend comprising 50 percent byweight isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer (ISOBAM, obtained fromKuraray Company) and 50 percent by weight styrene-maleic anhydridecopolymer (#3500, 75 percent styrene content, obtained from PolySciences Inc.), which blend was present in a concentration of 3 percentby weight in acetone. Subsequent to air drying at a temperature of 100°C. and monitoring the difference in weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, the twenty transparent sheets were coated on the second sidewith 0.35 grams, 3.5 microns in thickness, of the toner receiving layer.The two-side-coated Mylar® roll was cut into sheet form to obtain 20transparencies 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Ten of these transparencies werefed individually into a Xerox® 1005™ color xerographic imaging apparatusand the other ten were fed into a Xerox® 1038™ xerographic imagingapparatus. The toner receiving layer comprising the 75:25 blend ofisobutylene-maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymersrespectively was imaged with the Xerox® 1005™ and images were obtainedon the transparencies with an average optical density of 1.65 (black),0.90 (yellow), 1.60 (magenta), and 1.50 (cyan). The toner receivinglayer comprising the 50:50 blend of isobutylene-maleic anhydride andstyrene-maleic anhydride copolymers respectively was imaged with theXerox® 1038™ xerographic apparatus and black images resulted with anaverage optical density of 1.35. These images could not be handwipedfrom the transparency surface or lifted off the transparency surfacewith 3M scotch tape 60 seconds subsequent to their preparation.

EXAMPLE V

Twenty transparent coated recording sheets were prepared by the solventextrusion process (single side each time) on a Faustel Coater byproviding a Mylar® base sheet (roll form) in a thickness of 100 micronsand coating the first side of the base sheet with a blend comprising 75percent by weight sodium alginate (#032, obtained from ScientificPolymer Products) and 25 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide) (POLYOXWSRN-3000, obtained from Union Carbide Company), which blend was presentin a concentration of 4 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 100° C. and monitoring the differences in weight prior to andsubsequent to coating, the dried Mylar® roll was coated on the firstside with 0.4 grams, 4 microns in thickness, of the antistatic layer.The dried antistatic layer on the first side was then overcoated withmethyl vinyl ether-mono ethyl maleate (#16292, obtained from PolySciences Inc), which copolymer was present in a concentration of 4percent by weight in isopropanol. Subsequent to air drying at 100° C.and monitoring the weight prior to and subsequent to coating, the twentytransparent sheets were coated on the first side with 0.4 gram, 4microns in thickness, of the toner receiving layer. Subsequently, theMylar® coated on the first side with the antistatic and toner receivinglayers was rewound onto an empty core, and the uncoated (second) side ofthe Mylar® was coated with a blend comprising 75 percent by weightsodium alginate (#032, obtained from Scientific Polymer Products) and 25percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide) (POLYOX WSRN-3000, obtained fromUnion Carbide Company), which blend was present in a concentration of 4percent by weight in water. Subsequent to air drying at 100° C. andmonitoring the differences in weight prior to and subsequent to coating,the dried Mylar® roll was coated on the second side with 0.4 grams, 4microns in thickness, of the antistatic layer. The dried antistaticlayer on the second side was then overcoated with methyl vinylether-mono butyl maleate (#16291, obtained from Poly Sciences Inc),which copolymer was present in a concentration of 4 percent by weight inisopropanol. Subsequent to air drying at 100° C. and monitoring theweight prior to and subsequent to coating, the twenty transparent sheetswere coated on the second side with 0.4 grams, 4 microns in thickness,of the toner receiving layer. The two-side-coated Mylar® roll was cutinto sheets to obtain 20 transparencies 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Ten ofthese transparencies were fed individually into a Xerox® 1005™ colorxerographic imaging apparatus and the other ten were fed into a Xerox®1038™ xerographic imaging apparatus. The toner receiving layercomprising methyl vinyl ether-mono ethylmaleate copolymer was imagedwith the Xerox® 1005™ and images were obtained on the transparencieswith an average optical density of 1.70 (black), 0.85 (yellow), 1.55(magenta), and 1.55 (cyan). The toner receiving layer comprising methylvinylether-mono butyl maleate copolymer was imaged with the Xerox® 1038™Xerox apparatus and black images resulted with an average opticaldensity of 1.30. These images could not be handwiped from thetransparency surface or lifted off the transparency surface with 3Mscotch tape 60 seconds subsequent to their preparation.

EXAMPLE VI (COMPARATIVE)

Ten coated transparency recording sheets were prepared by a dip coatingprocess (both sides coated) by providing a Mylar® base sheet in athickness of 100 microns and coating the base sheet with an antistaticlayer component as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,697 (Malhotra),comprising a solution of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC 7HOF,obtained from Hercules Chemical Company), which solution was present ina concentration of 3 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, each of the sheets was coated on each surface with 0.6 grams,in a thickness of 6 microns per side, of the antistatic layer. Thesesheets were then coated on both sides with a toner receiving layer ofthe present invention comprising a blend of 50 percent by weight vinylacetate-maleic anhydride copolymer (#3347, obtained from Poly SciencesInc.) and 50 percent by weight ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer(#2308, obtained from Poly Sciences Inc.), which blend was present in aconcentration of 3 percent by weight in methanol. Subsequent to airdrying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, each sheet was coated on each surface with 0.5 grams, in athickness of 5 microns per side, of the toner receiving layer. Theresulting ten transparencies were then fed individually into a Xerox®1005™ color xerographic imaging apparatus. The average optical densityof the images obtained was 1.6 (black), 0.75 (yellow), 1.45 (magenta),and 1.40 (cyan). These images could not be handwiped from thetransparency surface. However, when a 3M Scotch® tape was placed on thetransparency surface and then pulled off to perform a Scotch® tape tonerfix test (testing adhesion of the toner to the recording sheet), theentire coating peeled away from the Mylar® base sheet. In contrast, thecoatings were not removed from the base sheet upon application andsubsequent removal of Scotch® tape with the recording sheet of ExampleI, which was coated with the same toner receiving layer and anantistatic layer of the present invention.

EXAMPLE VII (COMPARATIVE)

Ten coated transparency recording sheets were prepared by a dip coatingprocess (both sides coated) by providing a Mylar® base sheet in athickness of 100 microns and coating the base sheet with an antistaticlayer component as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,697 (Malhotra),comprising a solution of hydroxyethyl cellulose (Natrosol 250LR,obtained from Hercules Chemical Company), which solution was present ina concentration of 3 percent by weight in water. Subsequent to airdrying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, each of the sheets was coated on each surface with 0.45 grams,in a thickness of 5 microns per side, of the antistatic layer. Thesesheets were then coated on both sides with a toner receiving layer ofthe present invention comprising a blend of 75 percent by weight methylvinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer (#173, 50 percent methylvinylether, obtained from Scientific Polymer Products) and 25 percent byweight styrene-maleic anhydride (#3500, 75 percent styrene content,obtained from Poly Sciences Inc.), which blend was present in aconcentration of 3 percent by weight in acetone. Subsequent to airdrying at 25° C. and monitoring the weight prior to and subsequent tocoating, each of the sheets was coated on each surface with 0.4 grams,in a thickness of 4 microns per side, of the toner receiving layer.These transparencies were fed individually into a Xerox® 1005™ colorxerographic imaging apparatus. The average optical density of the imagesobtained was 1.5 (black), 0.75 (yellow), 1.50 (magenta), and 1.45(cyan). These images could not be handwiped from the transparencysurface. However, when a 3M Scotch® tape was placed on the transparencysurface and then pulled off to perform a Scotch® tape toner fix test(testing adhesion of the toner to the recording sheet), the entirecoating peeled away from the Mylar® base sheet. In contrast, thecoatings were not removed from the base sheet upon application andsubsequent removal of Scotch® tape with the recording sheet of ExampleIII, which was coated with the same toner receiving layer and anantistatic layer of the present invention.

Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention may occurto those skilled in the art subsequent to a review of the informationpresented herein; these embodiments and modifications, as well asequivalents thereof, are also included within the scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording sheet which comprises a base sheet,an antistatic layer coated on at least one surface of the base sheetcomprising a mixture of a first component selected from the groupconsisting of hydrophilic polysaccharides and mixtures thereof and asecond component selected from the group consisting of poly (vinylamines), poly (vinyl phosphates), poly (vinyl alcohols), poly (vinylalcohol)-ethoxylated, poly (ethylene imine)-ethoxylated, poly (ethyleneoxides), poly (n-vinyl acetamide-vinyl sulfonate salts),melamine-formaldehyde resins, ureaformaldehyde resins,styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, and mixtures thereof, and at leastone toner receiving layer coated on an antistatic layer, said tonerreceiving layer comprising a material selected from the group consistingof maleic anhydride containing polymers, maleic ester containingpolymers, and mixtures thereof.
 2. A recording sheet according to claim1 wherein the first component of the antistatic layer is selected fromthe group consisting of cellulose ester salts, cellulose ethers,cellulose ether salts, cationic cellulose ethers, cationic hydroxyethylcelluloses, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, substituted deoxycelluloses,dextran polymers, natural ionic gums, protein polymers, n-carboxymethylamylose salts, and mixtures thereof.
 3. A recording sheet according toclaim 1 wherein the first component of the antistatic layer is selectedfrom the group consisting of sodium derivatives of cellulose phosphateester, cellulose phosphate, sodium cellulose sulfate, cellulosecarbonate, sodium ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose,sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose calcium salt, carboxymethyl celluloseether sodium salt, carboxymethyl cellulose hydrazide, sodium sulfoethylcellulose, diethyl aminoethyl cellulose, diethyl ammonium chloridehydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl triethyl ammonium chloridehydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, dihydroxypropylcellulose, chlorodeoxycellulose, amino deoxycellulose, deoxycellulosephosphate, deoxy cellulose phosphonium salt, carboxymethyl dextran,diethyl aminoethyl dextran, dextran sulfate, dextran sulfate potassiumsalt, dextran sulfate sodium salt, amino dextran, dextran polysulfonatesodium salt, alginic acid sodium salt, alginic acid ammonium salt,alginic acid calcium salt, alginic acid calcium sodium salt, gum arabic,Carrageenan sodium salt, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar, cationic gumguar, Karaya gum, Xanthan gum, Chitosan, dimethylammonium hydrolyzedcollagen protein, agar-agar, amino agarose, n-carboxymethyl amylosesodium salt, and mixtures thereof.
 4. A recording sheet according toclaim 1 wherein the antistatic layer comprises the first component in anamount of from about 50 to about 90 percent by weight and the secondcomponent in an amount of from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight.5. A recording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the antistatic layercomprises a blend of first and second components selected from the groupconsisting of (a) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 75 percent by weight,and poly (ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight; (b) sodium dextransulfate, 75 percent by weight, and poly (ethylene oxide), 25 percent byweight; (c) sodium alginate, 75 percent by weight, and poly (ethyleneoxide), 25 percent by weight; (d) sodium carboxymethyl amylose, 75percent by weight, and poly (ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight; (e)sodium carboxymethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose, 75 percent by weight, andpoly(ethylene oxide), 25 percent by weight; (f) sodium carboxy methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, 75 percent by weight, and ethoxylated poly(ethylene imine), 25 percent by weight; (g) hydroxyethyl cellulose, 75percent by weight, and poly (vinyl alcohol) ethoxylated, 25 percent byweight; (h) carboxymethyl hydroxy propyl guar, 75 percent by weight, andmelamine-formaldehyde, 25 percent by weight; and (i) cationic cellulosicethers, 75 percent by weight, and poly (vinyl alcohol), 25 percent byweight.
 6. A recording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the antistaticlayer has a thickness of from about 1 to about 25 microns.
 7. Arecording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the toner receiving layercomprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly (maleicanhydride), styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, p-styrene sulfonicacid-maleic anhydride copolymers, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers,butadiene-maleic anhydride copolymers, isobutylene-maleic anhydridecopolymers, 1-octadecene-maleic anhydride copolymers, methylvinylether-maleic anhydride copolymers, n-octadecyl vinylether-maleicanhydride copolymers, vinyl chloride-maleic anhydride copolymers,vinylmethyl ketone-maleic anhydride copolymers, copolymers of methylacrylate-maleic anhydride and methyl methacrylate, vinylacetate-maleicanhydride copolymers, acrylonitrile-maleic anhydride copolymers,n-vinylpyrrolidone-maleic anhydride copolymers, alkyl vinyl ether-maleicacid monoalkylester copolymers, styrene-maleic anhydridemonomethylmaleate copolymers, and mixtures thereof.
 8. A recording sheetaccording to claim 1 wherein the toner receiving layer comprises amixture of at least two polymers.
 9. A recording sheet according toclaim 1 wherein the toner receiving layer comprises a mixture of twopolymers, wherein the first polymer is present in an amount of fromabout 10 to about 90 percent by weight and the second polymer is presentin an amount of from about 10 to about 90 percent by weight.
 10. Arecording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the toner receiving layerhas a thickness of from about 1 to about 25 microns.
 11. A recordingsheet according to claim 1 wherein the toner receiving layer alsocontains a filler material.
 12. A recording sheet according to claim 11wherein the filler material is present in an amount of from about 1 toabout 25 percent by weight of the coating composition.
 13. A recordingsheet according to claim 11 wherein the filler material is selected fromthe group consisting of colloidal silica, calcium carbonate, titaniumdioxide, clay, and mixtures thereof.
 14. A recording sheet according toclaim 1 wherein both surfaces of the base sheet are coated with anantistatic layer and both antistatic layers are coated with a tonerreceiving layer.
 15. A recording sheet according to claim 1 wherein thebase sheet is transparent.
 16. A recording sheet according to claim 1wherein the base sheet is opaque.
 17. A recording sheet according toclaim 1 wherein the base sheet has a thickness of from about 50 to about125 microns.
 18. A recording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the basesheet is coated with a first antistatic layer on one surface and coatedwith a second antistatic layer on a surface opposite to that coated withthe first antistatic layer, and wherein the first antistatic layer andthe second antistatic layer are not of identical composition.
 19. Arecording sheet according to claim 1 wherein the base sheet is coatedwith a first antistatic layer on one surface and coated with a secondantistatic layer on a surface opposite to that coated with the firstantistatic layer, wherein the first antistatic layer is coated with afirst toner receiving layer and the second antistatic layer is coatedwith a second toner receiving layer, and wherein the first tonerreceiving layer and the second toner receiving layer are not ofidentical composition.
 20. A recording sheet according to claim 19wherein the first antistatic layer and the second antistatic layer arenot of identical composition.